18 May 2008: Oxley: Road bridge recent crashes and near misses ....

[ozbob]

Media Release 18 May 2008

Oxley:  Road bridge recent crashes and near misses highlight the critical ongoing danger to passengers, train crew and motorists.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has again called for the immediate imposition of a 25 km/h speed limit on the downhill approach to, and on the road bridge at Oxley that crosses the main western railway line, and the positioning of concrete safety barriers until a permanent safety solution can be achieved. 
A lack of action by authorities and recent near calamities now make this more urgent than ever.

Robert Dow said:

?Seventeen Mile Rocks Road at Oxley crosses over the main western railway line adjacent to the Ardoyne Rd and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road intersection.  The road bridge over the railway line is approached from the west at the foot of a descent down Seventeen Mile Rocks road with a sharp right hand turn on to the bridge.?

?Many vehicles travel down Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and ignore the 40km/h advisory speed sign on the approach to the bridge.  There needs to be a 25km/h speed limit within 200 metres of the bridge, with suitable traffic calming devices to reduce the chance of a vehicle approaching too fast, and failing to make the curve and crashing through the chain wire fence and now the non-existent safety rail onto the main western railway line.? 

?In wet weather this danger is acute!?

?The speed limit needs to be policed!?

?In the last week or so a vehicle crash has taken out the safety rail on the northern side of the bridge going up Seventeen Mile rocks road.  How fortunate it was that the vehicle didn?t crash onto the railway line.?

?The attached photographs demonstrate the potential danger and recent damage. The original media release of 27 August 2007 (see reference 1) also highlights the critical situation.?

?This section of line is soon to be expanded from the present double to a triple mainline.  It will be necessary to re-engineer the present bridge for this triplication.  Until then concrete crash barriers should be erected to afford some protection from vehicles leaving the roadway and crashing onto the railway line.  Should a vehicle crash onto the railway line as a train is passing through Oxley station yard the consequences could be very serious.?

Reference:
1.  25 Aug 2007 RAIL Back On Track Media Release:
Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=206.msg540#msg540

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration 
admin@backontrack.org



Damage to bridge safety fence



Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008



Damaged safety rail


Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008



Damaged safety rail, no protection for railway line.



Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008

[ozbob]

Some more photographs Oxley Road bridge




Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008




Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008





Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008





Photograph R Dow 18 May 2008

[ozbob]

An acknowledgement of receipt of this release was received from Main Roads.
Acknowledgement sent at 3.19pm 19 May 2008.

Admin

[ozbob]

Article in the Satellite, page 3 28 May 2008.

Thanks for the community support Satellite!   

[ozbob]

Still trying to get a safe solution for the community.

The correspondence below was sent to the respective Ministers (Transport and Main Roads), Council, Trackstar Alliance, and Media.

Acknowledgement of receipts have been received from Transport and Main Roads and Trackstar Alliance.

No other responses received.

---------------------------

20 June 2009

This is a fictional account:

Today a semi-trailer crashed onto the main western railway line at the point where the Seventeen Mile Rocks Road crosses the railway line. The truck appeared to loose its brakes and failed to take the corner onto the bridge. Due to the lack of any protection the truck crashed onto the railway just as a down suburban express  rail service was about to pass through  Oxley. The train hit the truck and was derailed into the path of an up empty coal train.  The up empty coal train wagon was derailed and impacted with the heavily loaded suburban train.  There are many deaths and injuries .....


DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE?

The non response to this situation at a State and Local Government level is scandalous.

See -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=897.0  for photographs

Media Release 18 May 2008

Oxley:  Road bridge recent crashes and near misses highlight the critical ongoing danger to passengers, train crew and motorists.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport users has again called for the immediate imposition of a 25 km/h speed limit on the downhill approach to, and on the road bridge at Oxley that crosses the main western railway line, and the positioning of concrete safety barriers until a permanent safety solution can be achieved.
A lack of action by authorities and recent near calamities now make this more urgent than ever.

Robert Dow said:

?Seventeen Mile Rocks Road at Oxley crosses over the main western railway line adjacent to the Ardoyne Rd and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road intersection.  The road bridge over the railway line is approached from the west at the foot of a descent down Seventeen Mile Rocks road with a sharp right hand turn on to the bridge.?

?Many vehicles travel down Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and ignore the 40km/h advisory speed sign on the approach to the bridge.  There needs to be a 25km/h speed limit within 200 metres of the bridge, with suitable traffic calming devices to reduce the chance of a vehicle approaching too fast, and failing to make the curve and crashing through the chain wire fence and now the non-existent safety rail onto the main western railway line.?

?In wet weather this danger is acute!?

?The speed limit needs to be policed!?

?In the last week or so a vehicle crash has taken out the safety rail on the northern side of the bridge going up Seventeen Mile rocks road.  How fortunate it was that the vehicle didn?t crash onto the railway line.?

?The attached photographs demonstrate the potential danger and recent damage. The original media release of 25 August 2007 (see reference 1) also highlights the critical situation.?

?This section of line is soon to be expanded from the present double to a triple mainline.  It will be necessary to re-engineer the present bridge for this triplication.  Until then concrete crash barriers should be erected to afford some protection from vehicles leaving the roadway and crashing onto the railway line.  Should a vehicle crash onto the railway line as a train is passing through Oxley station yard the consequences could be very serious.?

Reference:
1.  25 Aug 2007 RAIL Back On Track Media Release:
Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!
http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=206.msg540#msg540

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

----------------------------------------------------------

See -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=206.0 for photographs

RAIL Back On Track - Media Release  25 August 2007

Brisbane: Oxley - Road bridge chaos around the corner!

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has called for the immediate imposition of a 25 km/h speed limit on the downhill approach to, and on the road bridge at Oxley that crosses the main western railway line.

Robert Dow said:

?Seventeen Mile Rocks Road at Oxley crosses over the main western railway line adjacent to the Ardoyne Rd and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road intersection.  The road bridge over the railway line is approached from the west at the foot of a descent down Seventeen Mile Rocks road with a sharp right hand turn on to the bridge.?

?Many vehicles travel down Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and ignore the 40km/h advisory speed sign on the approach to the bridge.  There needs to be a 25km/h speed limit within 200 metres of the bridge, with suitable traffic calming devices to reduce the chance of a vehicle approaching too fast, and failing to make the curve and crashing through the chain wire fence onto the main western railway line.?

?In wet weather this danger is acute!?

?The attached photographs demonstrate the potential danger.?

?This section of line is soon to be expanded from the present double to a triple mainline.  It will be necessary to re-engineer the present bridge for this triplication.  When this is done, concrete crash barriers should be erected to afford some protection from vehicles leaving the roadway and crashing onto the railway line.  Should a vehicle crash onto the railway line as a train is passing through Oxley station yard the consequences could be very serious.?

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

I have received advice that the no new bridge is planned. Some modifications to the existing structure with additional supports.  The damage to the bridge has brought to the attention of the council.

With the huge increase in traffic on 17 Mile Rocks road as a result of new residential developments and the DFO complex at Jindalee  the bridge does cause the community a lot concern.  It would have been  the perfect time to put a safe structure in place with the quadruplication works.  But alas that is not to be it seems.

[Mozz]

It would be interesting to see the traffic movements across that bridge in a single day - I suspect that it would be at least in the vicinity of 5000-10,000 however the sheer volumes are only part of the issue.

Other parts consist of the high degree of medium to heavy vehicles which use this route and the quite incomplete shielding of the traffic from potentially dropping right down onto the rail line should an incident occur.

When heading east (or downwards as the water falls) along seventeen mile rocks, it is reasonably steep descent into the general bridge area, then sharp right onto a narrow two lane bridge where there is also the complexity of another significant feeder road intersecting at the bridge, the then sharp left on a narrow roadway while still braking and decending down to a busy roundabout serving the rail/bus interchange and cook street/oxley station road.

If everyone plays nicely, drives safely and according to the prevailing road conditions then it should all be ok, but add the mix of frustrated motorists, heavy vehicles, high traffic volumes, poor weather conditions and inappropriate driver decisions and anything could be possible.

But from a risk management perspective should a medium to heavy vehicle coming down seventeen mile rocks encounter a loss of control or be involved in an incident with other vehicles either on the road or coming in from the bridge intersection, it is highly likely that the current flimsy metal partitions on the bridge would not prevent vehicles ending up on the rail tracks.

Lets hope that common sense prevails and mitigation work on this situation is undertaken.

[ozbob]

Another factor is the proposed shopping centre at Oxley. If that goes ahead there will be even more traffic chaos and increasing risk.

Common sense would dictate at least some concrete deflection barriers on that very exposed north-east corner.  Hopefully that would deflect an out of control vehicle either down Ardoyne or track it across the bridge.

This is a photo of that corner looking towards the north west.  The new 'down' third line will be nicely positioned for a vehicle to drop on it.



Photograph R B Dow 2007

A vehicle coming down the hill and fails to take the corner on to the bridge this is where they will come through.
The new line is going where that earth embankment is.

[ozbob]

Floodlights have been positioned on the very dangerous corner on to the Oxley road bridge.

This is no doubt associated with the construction works for the track upgrades between Corinda and Darra, and work at Oxley itself. But at least this might highlight the real risk to road users (and hence the railway) at night.

This photograph was taken just before dawn.



Photograph R Dow 12 July 2008

[ozbob]

Temporary barriers are now in place in the railway side of Ardoyne Road to stop parking during construction.
I checked one of the barriers, empty ...

'Danger Corner' as it was this morning.



Photograph R Dow 22 July 2008

[ozbob]

Floodlights were not on overnight 23rd/24th July 2008.

Just an observation ...

Cheers
Admin

[ozbob]

Floodlight was moved over to the other side of the road in front of the block where the station masters house once was. (See -->  http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=167.0  for Station Master house removal).

Work has started on the construction supporting walls next to the new lines on the down side.

It is amazing that nothing is being done to stop the obvious and ever present risk of vehicles crashing onto the line, which will be even more acute as the tracks go from two to four ...





Photographs R Dow 29 July 2008

[ozbob]

Picture of the floodlights before dawn that are on most nights as construction work proceeds underneath and around the bridge.
As least these lights do alert motorists of the danger.

The flood lights have been moved from the corner to a position in front of the block where the Station Masters house used to be.



Photograph R Dow 4 August 2008

[ozbob]

I have received advice from Cr Milton Dick's Richlands Ward Office today that "a concrete vehicle barrier is being constructed adjacent to the bridge on the western side .... This barrier is to prevent vehicles from driving off the bridge, onto the rail line."

Good news!  That is all we have asked for.  With the new line it will be very close to the drop.  This will protect the western line.

Well done!

[ozbob]

The construction of the wall to protect the railway has started!   

It is obvious now that a wall is needed.  A small victory for common-sense ...













Photographs R Dow 16th November 2008

[ozbob]

The wall is almost finished.





Photographs R Dow 9th December 2008

[ozbob]

The wall is now finished.



Photograph R Dow 13th December 2008

[ozbob]

A problem that doesn't seem to have been anticipated is the blocking of vision for motorists attempting a right hand turn from Ardoyne Road onto Seventeen Mile Rocks Road.  Local residents are concerned and have previously highlighted the issue.  I have followed up today with an email to the authorities and attached the photographs below to clarify the problem.

11th January 2009

Dear Honourable Members and Councillors,

I am writing concerning the intersection at Oxley, Ardoyne Road and Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, specifically next to the road bridge at Oxley.

A necessary wall has been constructed along the edge of Ardoyne road up to intersection. This wall structure is needed to protect the railway lines (soon to be 4 track) from vehicles that may run off the road coming down the hill.  The problem is that vision is now obscured for vehicles turning right from Ardoyne Road onto Seventeen Mile Rocks Road.

Mr xxxxxxx (name removed for privacy reasons), a resident of Oxley has raised this issue previously.   His suggestion of a safety mirror or lights is a sound one.  Restricting right hand turns from Ardoyne Road is another, but there are a number of bus routes that require buses to turn right.  Personally, I have given up trying to turn right from Ardoyne Road at this intersection and now turn left, and then go around the round-about down from the bridge and then back up Seventeen Mile Rocks Road.

RAIL Back On Track believes it is essential that this matter be addressed as a priority, in view of the large number of  'near misses' now occurring as motorists attempt a blind right hand turn.  There is more recent damage to the bridge superstructure as well.  There is a 40km/h advisory sign for vehicles coming down the hill.  We believe that an absolute speed restriction of 40km/h is needed, with enforcement.

It is a pity that with the rail upgrade the opportunity was not taken to further improve the road bridge. 

RAIL Back On Track has a long history of highlighting the problems with this bridge, please see --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=897.0   for background.

Please find attached some photographs I have taken this morning to highlight the issues.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

Photographs R Dow 11th January 2009

[ozbob]

A prompt response has been received from BCC.  An inspection of the site is to be arranged.

Thanks.

Regards
Admin

[ozbob]

The security/safety fence on top of the wall has started to be constructed.

This will further impair vision for motorists.



Photograph R Dow 15th January 2009

[ozbob]

Some further shots of the fencing construction on top of the wall.





Fence taking shape - later during the day



Photographs R Dow 16th January 2009

[ozbob]

Complete.

Problem on the corner is acute.  I checked from a car this afternoon.  There is no visibility and to turn right from Ardoyne on to Seventeen Mile Rocks road is extremely dangerous.








Photographs R Dow 17th January 2009

[ozbob]

Despite an initial response from Transport that visibility at the intersection has not changed.  Once it was pointed out that one cannot see through concrete it was conceded that maybe a mirror on a pole might actually be of some assistance to hapless motorists attempting to turn right without safe vision of the approaching traffic from the left (across the bridge).  This solution was first dismissed as not practical.

Crikey ....  smart state alright!

[ozbob]

Further update.  Right turn from Ardoyne Road is now restricted for certain hours, buses excepted.  Buses are much higher and the driver can see the traffic from left, most car drivers cannot.  As can be seen damage to the bridge is regular.  The failure to address this bridge as part of the overall project was very short sighted.  The speed advisory signs around the bridge are very confusing.













Photographs R Dow 15th February 2008

[ozbob]

These photographs clearly demonstrate the lack of vision.

Car is actually poking into traffic flow and driver still does not have clear vision from his/her left, traffic coming across the bridge.  The longer the front of car (engine compartment etc.) the worse it becomes





Corner showing the wall.



Photographs R Dow 18th February 2009

[ozbob]

We have received advice that mirrors are not suitable to assist motorists at this intersection.

Well, why is there a Safe-T-View mirror at the Cardiff Road Bridge/Railway Parade intersection at Darra ? ? ?







Photographs R Dow 28th March 2009

The traffic through this intersection is probably heavier than the traffic across the bridge at Oxley and is travelling at a faster speed along Cardiff Road.

[ozbob]

From the Satellite 15th April 2009 page 5

Traffic nightmare

Traffic nightmare
Merrin Jagtman

ANYONE would think Oxley was home to Suncorp Stadium on match day with the number of vehicles continuing to congest its roads each day. Concerned resident and local public transport advocate group RAIL Back on Track spokesman, Robert Dow, said immediate relief for residents and businesses was needed around the Oxley Train Station precinct. He said part of the solution was to introduce local `station' buses that would provide convenient public transport from suburban residences to key stations.

"These station buses would be separate from the normal bus services, although some integration and variation of the normal routes would be possible if station buses were introduced," he said.

"The Brisbane City Loop buses are a good model for the station bus concept. "By having these dedicated station buses the pressure would be off the present parking facilities, and those commuters who need to travel outside the peak times would be able to park without the present problems.

"It is time we moved forward with solutions, rather than just knocking down houses and building more and more car parks, which in turn just acts as further encouragement for masses to drive."

State Member for Mt Ommaney Julie Attwood said 70 new car parking places were being fully utilised at Oxley Train Station but parking around the streets continued to be a problem for local residents.

"Blackheath Road is one of the most popular streets for parking by commuters as it is a short downhill walk to the railway station," she said. "They park on both sides of this road allowing room for one car width in between."

Ms Attwood said she had written to the Lord Mayor about the situation and asked that a yellow line be drawn along one side of Blackheath Road to prevent parking on at least one side. "There are many people who use the station and who live outside the local area such as the Richlands and Springfield areas," she said.

"Currently a new station at Richlands is being built and this will provide 600 new parking spaces for many of these commuters, eventually alleviating the parking issues around Oxley Station."

But Ms Attwood said there were also a number of bus services from the Centenary suburbs running via Seventeen Mile Rocks Road and also from Inala that provided services to the station which were not at full capacity.

Jamboree Councillor Matthew Bourke said several Oxley roads were being measured for line markings. He said marked parking bays and three-hour parking bays would be complete within the next month. "I have been asking Translink for additional bus services and have been knocked back several times," he said. Cr Bourke said the intersection of Ardoyne Road and Seventeen Miles Rocks Road was also of concern to many residents.

"The recent Oxley Train Station upgrade has added to the problems associated with the intersection by decreasing the visibility of motorists who were exiting Ardoyne Road," he said.

"It has been proposed to prohibit a right hand turn out of Ardoyne Road onto Seventeen Mile Rocks Road, but I would like to conduct community consultation with local residents before any changes are considered. "It needs to be noted that any changes to the road network will have significant impact on the surrounding roads."

[ozbob]

 

Well, well, a mirror is to be installed.

From the South West News 20th May 2009 page 5

Calls to fix guard rail over train line

[ozbob]

The safety mirror is now in place!  Three cheers!!!

Photographs to follow.  Thanks to BCC, Cr Bourke and Member for Mount Ommaney Mrs Attwood for their support in at last getting an outcome.

[ozbob]

Vehicles turning from Ardoyne can now see clearly if there is traffic on the road bridge.





Photographs R Dow 6th August 2009

[ozbob]

I finally got around to driving a vehicle through the intersection.  The mirror has made a huge difference.  On turning right from Ardoyne onto 17 Mile Rocks Road you now have a clear view of the traffic coming up and over the road bridge.  A safe and simple outcome!

[#Metro]

Wow. This is quite excellent.

"Safety mirror not suitable for this area", that's quite funny.

[ozbob]

I noted that the wall and safety barriers on 'danger corner'  has been recently impacted by a motor vehicle coming down the hill ...

I am glad I battled away to get the wall and barriers .... 

And the mirror is still doing it's job.  The mirror that was said ' was not appropriate ' ... LOL

[HappyTrainGuy]

Mate, you don't want to have a look at the road bridges between Wooloowin and Albion haha.

[ozbob]

Mate, you don't want to have a look at the road bridges between Wooloowin and Albion haha.

Why haven't you attempted to get them fixed then?

[HappyTrainGuy]

They get fixed but some numptys out there always come along at night and don't realise how sharp/tight the corners are and slightly nudges into them.